Roadway expansion joint bird protection arrangement

ABSTRACT

A roadway-support bird protection arrangement and method for preventing birds from entering and damaging hollow cores of elongated roadway support structures. The elongated roadway support structures are longitudinally spaced apart to allow for expansion and contraction therebetween. The inventive arrangement includes an elongated foraminous web of material having generally parallel side edges, a reinforcement arrangement on its side edges, an attachment member spaced along the reinforcement member to permit the foraminous web to be supportively hung between adjacent, longitudinally spaced apart roadway support structures so as to keep birds from entering the support structures. The elongated foraminous web is preferably formed in a “V” shape with elongated side wings thereon for disposition between and attachment to the roadway support structures.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to bird-proofing arrangements for highway support structures to keep birds from leaving their droppings in areas which may cause deterioration of that highway support arrangement.

2. Prior Art

Highway design has evolved considerably over the past decade or two. The new type of support for a road surface or a highway, which is raised and supported on concrete piers or pillars extending vertically from the ground The highway supports are now “U” or “trough-shaped” pre-cast concrete housing enclosures. Such pre-cast concrete housing enclosures are typically about 50-60 feet long and are supported at each end by the concrete piers or pillars. Each elongated enclosure housing is spaced apart from a longitudinally adjacent elongated enclosure housing. These trough-shaped enclosure housings support a roadway surface on their uppermost elongated edges. The roadway surfaces are made of steel mesh with concrete laid thereover. Interdigitated expansion joints or fingers are arranged between adjacent roadway surface portions to provide a relatively smooth and supportive joint for vehicular traffic thereover. The enclosure housings supporting the road surfaces are however, merely just spaced about a foot apart to accommodate relative expansion and contraction of the elongated housing enclosures during ambient temperature changes.

Such hollow, relatively weather protected, elongated enclosure housings, often at least six or more feet in height and 15-20 feet at least, in width, provide an attraction for birds, such as pigeons and the like. Such birds enter the transverse openings between adjacent ends of each adjacent enclosure of housing. The birds get in the large hollow spaces within the elongated enclosures and leave their droppings. Such bird droppings eventually destroy the integrity of the elongated housing and its associated support structure and make a hazardous environment for personnel who enter the roadway to perform maintenance and inspection work within the roadway support housing.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a mechanism for safely and inexpensively eliminating the ability of birds to enter the hollow core of those elongated housings.

It is also a further object of the present invention to provide a protective arrangement for those housings, which will accommodate their expansion and contraction cycles.

It is also an object of the present invention, to provide a bird resistant member between adjacent elongated enclosure housings which will permit normal weather conditions to enter and leave the hollow core of those elongated enclosure housings.

It is also a further object of the present invention to provide a bird resistant bellows arrangement for gaps between highway housing structures which permits inspection and accessability of the housing, the bellows and to facilitate repair to either, if necessary.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to bird exclusion arrangements utilized between adjacent elongated pre-cast hull core housing structures which typically are used to support a highway road surface. The elongated housing enclosures are typically supported at each end thereof, by an elongated concrete pier or pillar. A roadway support is arranged at the end of each elongated hollow core housing on the upper surface of the concrete pier. Each elongated hollow core concrete housing, supporting a road surface, may expand up to about 12″ or contract to that amount, depending upon weather conditions and/or temperature.

These elongated pre-cast hollow core road supporting housings are generally of “trough” shape, or of “U” shape, having generally elongated (possibly angled) sidewalls, and a lower support floor, unitary therewith. The support floor is supported on the roadway supports arranged on the top portion of the concrete piers. The upper edge of the sidewalls support a road surface. The road surface is often made from concrete reinforced with steel rods therewithin. Longitudinally adjacent road surface sections sit on those top portions of the sidewalls of the elongated housing. The adjacent sections of road surfaces have interlocking fingers to accommodate expansion of those road surfaces and the concrete elongated housing structures while permitting a smooth surface on which automobiles and traffic may drive.

An elongated, foraminous, weather permeable bellow may be arranged between adjacent wall sections and floor sections in the pre-cast hollow core elongated housing arrangements. Those elongated bellows in one embodiment, are preferably of generally V-shape, in cross-section, having extended side wing portions. Each extended side wing portion, may in one embodiment, include an elongated cable which is attached to each parallel edge of the wing portions of that bellow member. Those elongated cables provide a secure and stable means for attaching a cable clip therefrom and to the inside portions of the pre-cast wall sides and lower support floor. In another preferred embodiment for attachment of the side wing portions to the walls of the housings may be comprised of spaced-apart stainless steel bolts and washers securing those wing portions to the housing walls, to permit localized bellows adjustment or portion replacement thereof, without the hinderance of a cable thereat. Other preferred embodiments may include bellows of a “W” shape or a “U” shape, depending upon the nature of the bellows material, its likely expanded width and the like.

Expansion and contraction of the pre-cast concrete enclosure housings effects a corresponding narrowing or pinching and an expansion and a widening of the “V”-shaped or “between-the-housings” section of the bellow portion of the present invention. The permeable nature of the mesh permits inspection of the mesh, the attachment wing portions and the housings as well as a circulation of air and weather within the hollow core of the elongated housings supporting the roadway surface, while preventing birds and the like, particularly pigeons, from making their way into the hollow core of such elongated structures and leaving their droppings therein.

The invention thus comprises a roadway-support bird protection arrangement for preventing birds from entering hollow cores of elongated roadway support structures, which elongated roadway support structures are longitudinally spaced apart to allow for expansion and contraction therebetween. The arrangement comprises an elongated foraminous web of material having generally parallel side edges, a reinforcement member arranged on said side edges, an attachment member spaced along the reinforcement member to permit the foraminous web to be supportively hung between adjacent, longitudinally spaced apart roadway support structures so as to keep birds from entering the support structures. The elongated foraminous web is preferably formed in a “V” shape with elongated side wings thereon for disposition between and attachment to the roadway support structures. The elongated side edges of the foraminous web may include a further reinforcement member or a folded over to provide a simple edge overlap. Any such reinforcement arrangement would have a web securing means arranged therewith. The “V” shaped web is expandable and closable about its vertex, in corresponding movement with expansion and contraction of the elongated roadway support structures.

The invention may also include a method of providing a roadway-support bird protection arrangement for preventing birds from entering hollow cores of elongated roadway support structures. The elongated roadway support structures are longitudinally spaced apart to allow for expansion and contraction therebetween. The method preferably includes one or more of the following steps, including: attaching an elongated foraminous web of material having generally parallel side edges to edge portions of the elongated roadway support structures, placing a reinforcement arrangement on the side edges of the bellows, fixing an attachment member spaced along the reinforcement arrangement to permit the foraminous web to be supportively hung between adjacent, longitudinally spaced apart roadway support structures so as to keep birds from entering the support structures, forming the elongated web into a generally “V” shaped in cross-section, with an elongated vertex at a fold thereof. The roadway support structures are generally of “trough” shape with a hollow core, and the support structures are longitudinally spaced apart by about 2 to 12 inches to accommodate expansion and contraction therebetween.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent, when viewed in conjunction with the following drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side-elevational view of a coupled, interdigitated road surface, supported by a pair of longitudinally adjacent pre-cast housing enclosures, supported on the upper end of a concrete pier;

FIG. 2 is a view taken along the lines 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of a bird bellow arrangement arranged between two portions of the elongated housing;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the V-shaped bird bellow, shown with its attachment cable and clips, to the inside surface of adjacent pre-cast sections of the elongated housing;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of a further embodiment of a bird bellow arrangement arranged between two portions of the elongated housing;

FIG. 6 is a view taken along the lines 6-6 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a cross-section of a further bellow-shape embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown the present invention which relates to bird exclusion arrangements 10 utilized between adjacent elongated pre-cast hull core housing enclosure structures 12 which typically are used to support a highway road surface 14. The elongated housing enclosures 12 are typically supported at each end thereof by an elongated concrete pier or pillar 16, or at an interdigitated juncture 18 of two longitudinally adjacent housing enclosure structures 12 and 12A as represented in FIG. 1. A expansion/contraction roadway support 20 is supportively arranged at the end of each elongated hollow core housing enclosure 12 on the upper surface of the concrete pier 16. Each elongated hollow core concrete housing enclosure 12, supporting a road surface 14, may expand up to about 12″or contract to that amount, depending upon weather conditions and/or ambient temperature.

These elongated pre-cast hollow core road supporting housing enclosures 12 are generally of “trough” shape, or of “U” shape, as represented for example, in FIG. 2. Each housing enclosure 12 has generally elongated outwardly tapered sidewalls 22, and a lower support floor 24, typically formed unitarily therewith. The support floor 24 is movably supported on the roadway supports 20 arranged on the top portion of the concrete piers 16. The upper edge 30 of the sidewalls 22 support the road surface 14. The road surface 14 is often made from concrete reinforced with steel re-rods therewithin. Longitudinally adjacent road surface sections 14 sit on those top portions of the sidewalls 22 of the elongated housings as represented in FIGS. 1 and 2. The adjacent sections of road surfaces 14 have interlocking fingers 32 to accommodate expansion of those road surfaces 14 and the concrete elongated housing structures 12 and 12A while permitting a smooth surface on which automobiles and traffic may drive.

The bird exclusion arrangement 10 may be preferably comprised of a slightly flexible, elongated, foraminous, permeable, bird-exclusion bellow 40 which may be arranged to supportively and foldably expand and foldably contract, while hung between adjacent wall sections 22 and floor sections 24 in the pre-cast hollow core elongated housing arrangements 12 as represented in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

Those elongated bellows 40, are of generally “V”-shaped in cross-section, have extended re-enforced side wing portions 42, as represented in FIGS. 3 and 4. Each extended side wing portion 42, may in one embodiment, include an elongated reinforcement or cable 44 which is utilized to fixedly attached each parallel edge 46 of the wing portions 42 of that bellow member 40 to (and hang between) the edges of adjacent wall and floor portions 22 and 24 of the supporting housing enclosures 12. Those elongated cables or elongated reinforcements 44 provide a secure and stable means for attaching a cable clip or bolt 50 therefrom and to the inside portions of the pre-cast wall sides 22 and lower support floor 24.

Expansion and contraction of the pre-cast concrete enclosure housings 12 effects a narrowing or pinching and an expansion and a widening of the V-shaped section 52 of the bellow portion 40 of the present invention. The permeable nature of the bellow mesh permits visual mesh and wall inspection as well as a circulation of air and weather within the hollow core of the elongated housings 12 supporting the roadway surface 14, while preventing birds and the like, particularly pigeons, from making their way through expansion gaps between adjacent housing structures 12 and into the hollow core of the elongated housing structures 12 and leaving their droppings therein.

The bellows 40 may in further embodiments be of “U” shape or even “W” shape 56 in cross-section, as represented in FIG. 7. The “W” cross-sectional shape permits less “drape” “D” extending from the road supports 24. The side wing portions 42 having webbed re-enforcements 58 therein, are shown only with the “V” shape in FIGS. 5 and 6. Such re-enforcements 58 may be comprised of elongated folded-over flaps of the side wing portions 42 of the bellows material. Such preferred re-enforcement permits an anchor bolt and washer or stud and nut arrangement 60 to secure the bellows 40 without any embedded cable as in an earlier embodiment. In a yet further example of an attachment arrangement of the foraminous side wings 42, a bead of adhesive 62 may be applied to the edges of the (porous) concrete walls and/or the side wings 42 of the web for simple attachment therebetween and repair of the web thereafter. 

1. A roadway-support bird protection arrangement for preventing birds from entering hollow cores of elongated roadway support structures, which elongated roadway support structures are longitudinally spaced apart to allow for expansion and contraction therebetween, said arrangement comprising: an elongated foraminous web of material having generally parallel side edges; a reinforcement arrangement on said side edges of said elongated foraminous web; an attachment member spaced along said reinforcement arrangement to permit said foraminous web to be supportively and flexibly hung between adjacent, longitudinally spaced apart roadway support structures so as to keep birds from entering said support structures.
 2. The roadway-support bird protection arrangement as recited in claim 1, wherein said elongated foraminous web is formed in a “V” shape with elongated side wings thereon for disposition between and attachment to said roadway support structures.
 3. The roadway-support bird protection arrangement as recited in claim 2, wherein said elongated side edges of said foraminous web includes a reinforcement arrangement.
 4. The roadway-support bird protection arrangement as recited in claim 3, wherein said reinforcement arrangement has a web securing means arranged therewith.
 5. The roadway-support bird protection arrangement as recited in claim 2, wherein said “V” shaped web is expandable and closable about its vertex, in corresponding movement with expansion and contraction of said elongated roadway support structures.
 6. The roadway-support bird protection arrangement as recited in claim 3, wherein said web securing means with said re-enforcement arrangement comprises a plurality of spaced-apart anchoring bolts.
 7. The roadway-support bird protection arrangement as recited in claim 6, wherein said re-enforcement arrangement comprises a folded-over web portion of said side wings.
 8. The roadway-support bird protection arrangement as recited in claim 3, wherein said re-enforcement comprises an elongated cable attached to said side wings of said web.
 9. A method of providing a roadway-support bird protection arrangement for preventing birds from entering hollow cores of elongated roadway support structures, which elongated roadway support structures are longitudinally spaced apart to allow for expansion and contraction therebetween, said arrangement comprising: attaching an elongated foraminous web of material having generally parallel side edges to edge portions of said elongated roadway support structures; placing a reinforcement arrangement on said side edges; fixing an attachment member spaced along said reinforcement arrangement to permit said foraminous web to be supportively hung between adjacent, longitudinally spaced apart roadway support structures so as to keep birds from entering from a location between said support structures.
 10. The method as recited in claim 9, including the step of: forming said elongated web into a generally “V” shaped web in cross-section, with an elongated vertex at a fold thereof.
 11. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein said roadway support structures are generally of “trough” shape with a hollow core, and said support structures are longitudinally spaced apart by about 2 to 12 inches to accommodate expansion and contraction therebetween.
 12. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein said attachment members comprise spaced-apart bolts extending through said re-enforcement arrangement.
 13. The method as recited in claim 9, including: forming said elongated web into a generally “W” shape in cross-section to permit a closer hanging web in its suspension from said roadway support structures, while still permitting maximum expandability to said roadway structures.
 14. The method as recited in claim 9, including: attaching said side wings to edges of said roadway support structures by an adhesive bead to facilitate application and repair of said foraminous web to said support structure. 